Reversing-valve for regenerative furnaces.



G. P. GRAHAM.

'REVERSING VALVE FOR REGENERATIVE FURNACES.

APPLIOATION IILBD APR. 18, 1908.

9 1 6,695. Patented Mar. 30, 1909.

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G. P. GRAHAM.

APPLICATION FILED A PE.18, 1908.

Patented Mar. 30, 1909.

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REVERSING VALVE FOR REGENERATIVB FURNACES.

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GEORGE PENMAN GRAHAM, OF GADSDEN, ALABAMA.

REVERSING-VALVE FOR REGENERATIVE FURNACES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE P. GRAHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gadsden, in the county of Etowah and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reversing-Valves for Regenerative Furnaces, of which the fol- *lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to reversing valves for regenerative furnaces, and has for its object to provide a valve of improved structure, together with an improved and more efleotive water seal therefor.

The invention comprises a curved or inverted U-shaped flue one branch of which communicates with the regenerative or checker-chamber, and is pivoted on a vertical axis so that the other branch may be swung in a horizontal plane, over the or the stack-ports, in order to place either of said ports in communication with the checker-chamber. The swinging flue also carries means for closing either one or both of said ports and it can also be operated to serve as a regulating valve. Both ends of the swinging flue are also provided with a water seal of improved construction and the flue; swings Without lifting whereby the esca eof gas is most effectually prevented.

n the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a vertical section of the invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section showing the parts in another position.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 5 denotes the brick-work at the bottom of the furnace in which are ports 6, 7 and 8, the first mentioned leading to the checker or regenerative chamber, the second to the gasproducer, and the last mentioned to the stack. The valve for connecting these ports is a curved or inverted U-shaped flue 9 lined with fire-brick or other refractory material, or it can be water cooled. One branch 10 of this flue is in communication at all times with the port6. The otherbranch 11 is adapted to communicate alternately with the ports 7 and 8. The branch 10 is pivoted on a vertical axis coinciding with the axis of the port 6, so that the branch 11 may be swung to register with the port 7 or the port 8 as re quired, said ports being located in the path of travel of said branch and in alinement therewith when the branch is in position above the same.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 18, 1908.

Patented March 30, 1909.

Serial No. 427,933.

At the mouth of the port 6 is mounted a pivotal support for the flue 9 comprising a plate 12 having an annular channel 13 formed by a pair of upstanding annular flanges 1 1. On the lower end of the branch 10 is an annular casting 15 which extends into the channel 13. In this castingis also an annular groove 16 to receive the inner flange 14. In the channel are anti-friction balls 17 on which the casting 15 rests, thus providing a rolling support therefor and making the flue easier to swing about. The joint between the port 6 and the branch 10 is sealed by means of water in the channel 13.

On top of the brickwork containing the ports 7 and 8 is rigidly mounted a bed-plate 18 having a continuous upstanding marginal flange 1.9 whereby a water-pan 20 is formed. In the bed-plate are ports or openings which register with the ports 7 and 8, and on the bed-plate are also upstanding annular flanges 21 which surround the mouth of the ports 7 and 8.

On top of the bed-plate 18 is mounted a slidable water-pan 22 comprising a bed-plate 23 having a continuous upstanding marginal flange 24, and also a continuous depending marginal flange 2 5 whereby the said p an is supported on but spaced from the bed-plate 18.

At the middle of the bed-plate 23 is a circular opening which is surrounded by two upstanding spaced and concentric circular flanges 26 and 27, respectively, which form a water-receptacle 28. To the lower end of the branch 11 is secured an annular plate 29 projecting a short distance from the outer surface thereof, and having an upstanding marginal flange 30 which is concentric to the flanges 26 and 27, and spaced from the latter flange. The outer surface of the branch 11 and the parts 29 and 30 also form a waterreceptacle 31. The lower end of the branch 11 is further sealed by a triple sealing-device comprising an annular horizontally disposed plate 32 having at its ends depending flanges 33 and 34, respectively, and at the middle a depending flange 35. This plate surrounds the branch 11 and when in sealing position, the flange 33 extends down into the waterreceptacle 28, the flange 31 into the waterreceptacle 31, and the flange 35 extends down between the flanges 27 and 30 into the water contained in the pan 20, thus forming a triple seal for the branch 11.

As already stated, the branch 11 is adapted to be placed in communication with the port 7 or the port 8, in order to place either of said ports in communication with the checker or regenerative chamber of the furnace. ,W'hen the branch is in communication with one of said ports, the other port is closed by the bed-plate 23 which moves with the branch and is in sliding contact withthe flanges 21 surrounding the mouth thereof. lVhen the branch is midway between the ports both of them will be closed by the bedplate 23. W hen the branch is passing from one flue to the other, the triple sealing-device must be lifted in order that the flange 35 may clear the flange 21, and when the branch comes into proper position above the flue, the sealing-device is dropped to its sealing position. Any suitable mechanism may be employed for operating the device as stated.

When the branch 11 is midway between the ports 7 and 8, the bed-plate 23 is a short distance above the water level in the pan 20,

which leaves an open space between said ports through which gas might escape if either flue should leak. To seal this space I employ plates 36 depending from the bedplate 23, into the water in the pan 20 and extending radially from the flange 25 far enough so as to be in contact with the flange 35 when the same is down. For the purpose of centering and guiding the triple sealingdevice to its proper position between the flanges 27 and 30, I provide said flanges with radially projecting plates 37 and 38, respectively. The radial plates 37 which project from the flange 27 may be continuations of or made integral with the plates 36.

The branch 11 is supported on wheels 39 traveling on the rim 19, said wheels being mounted in a frame 40 carried by the branch. This arrangement together with the ballbearing 17 permits the flue to be easily swung from one position to another. The pans 20 and 22 are arcuate, the rims 19 and 24 thereof at the front and rear being concentric and having for their radial center the pivotal axis of the branch 10. The edge 24 of the pan 22 is above the water level in the pan 20, and

the edges of the water-receptacles 28 and 29 are above the edge of the pan 22. The overflow from the receptacle 28 is into the pan 22, and the overflow from the latter is into the pan 20. The overflow from the waterreceptacle 29 is into the pan 20.

The arrangement herein described makes a perfect seal to prevent the escape of gas and also to prevent air from going into the furnace, thus resulting in a saving of fuel and tending to increase the output of the furnace. There are no abrupt turns in the swinging flue, no valves, seats, or any iron work on the inside to burn out, thus making it an inexpensive device to maintain in operation. The branch 11 is in two separable sections, the joint being indicated at 41, in order that the swinging flue may be opened for cleaning or relining. In the bed-plate 23 are also cleaning doors 42 which also serve as eXplosion doors. These doors are constructed and mounted so as to be sealed by the water in the pan 22.

The operation of the apparatus will be apparent from the foregoing description but it may be summarized as follows: If the gas port 7 is to be placed in communication with the port 6, theflue 9 is swung around so that the branch 11 will be in communication with the port 7 and the port 8 will be closed by the bed-plate 23. Upon reversing the position of the flue 9 it will establish communication between the stack-port 8 and the flue 6, and the port 7 will then be closed by the bedplate 23. The flue may be moved by any convenient method such as a hydraulic or electric motor, etc. The flue 9 may also be operated to act as a regulating valve by swingin it so that it will register with only a part of the gas port thereby conveying a reduced amount or gas to the furnace. When the flue is in this position as well as when the flue is being swung from one port to the other the triple sealing device must be lifted in order that the flange 35 may clear the flanges 21 but when said sealing device is thus lifted the seal is not broken because the flanges 33 and 34 will still be sealed in the receptacles 28 and 31, the length of said flanges being such that their lower ends will remain immersed when the device is lifted as stated. r

' I claim:

1. The combination with a plurality of passages, of a reversing valve comprising a flue pivotedv at one end and having said end in constant communication with one of the passages, and adapted to have its free end in communication with either one of the other passa es, and a water seal around the free end of the flue and movable therewith;

2. The combination with a plurality of passages, of a water-pan having ports there to, a water-pan slidably mounted on said pan and having an opening adapted to register with either of said ports, a movable flue communicating with the opening, and a water-sealed connection between the flue and the sliding water-pan.

3. The combination with a plurality of passages, of a waterpan having ports thereto, a water-pan sli ably mounted on said pan, and having an opening adapted to register with either of said ports, awater-rece tacle surrounding said 0 ening and indepen ent of the last mentione pan, a flue communicating-with the opening and movable with the sliding pan, a water-receptacle carried by the flue, and a connection between the receptacles extending thereinto.

4. The combination with a plurality of passages, of a wateran having ports thereto, a Water-pan sli ably mounted on said pan, and having an opening adapted to regis- I either of the aforesaid ports, and the bottom ter with either of said ports, a water-receptacle surrounding said opening and independent of the last mentioned pan, a flue communicatin with the opening and movable with the liding pan, a water-receptacle carried by the flue, and a sealing member between the sliding pan and the flue, said member having flanges extending respectively between the receptacles into the first mentioned pan, and into the receptacles.

5. The combination with a plurality of passages, of a water-pan having ports thereto, a flange surrounding said ports, a waterpan slidably mounted on said pan and spaced from the bottom thereof, said sliding pan having an opening adapted to register with of the sliding pan being in contact with the port flanges, a flue communicating with the opening and movable with the sliding pan, a water-receptacle surrounding the opening, a Water-receptacle carried by the flue, and a sealing member extending into said receptaeles and having a flange extending therebetween into the first mentioned pan, said sealing member being loose to permit its being lifted over the flanges surrounding the ports. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

GEURGE PEYMAN GRAHAh I. Witnesses:

I. G. Hoon, P. M. MoCALL. 

